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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9089, 14 May 1908, Page 4

A rather important question was submitted to the Minister for Labour on Tuesday by a deputation of medical gentlemen representing the Wellington division of the British Medical Association. What the deputation ■; desired was that legislation should >be passed enabling a medical man to have a seat on the Arbitration' Court as assessor in cases of claims for damages under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Acts. It was pointed out by the Hon. Dr. Collins, M.L.C., that the technical knowledge thus provided wouid facilitate decisions. The principle had been satisfactorily followed in other countries, and was adopted here in regard to nautical and latr.l compensation cases. There can be no doubt that an expert sitting on the Bench would prove of great value to the Court, seeing that he would be able to guide it in the assessment of compensation. Tiie Minister acknowledged the importance of the matter brought forward, and promised to give it careful consideration.

The Prima Minister is not quite consistent when he states —as he did on Tuesday to a meeting of Denniston people—that "he was rejoiced that the Blackball strike was over at last," because, as head of the Government, he acted upon the dictum of his Attorney-Gonera' that there was no strike proceeding —the strike having ceased to exist from the very instant of its birth, some nine weeks ago. Was he not, because of this alleged fact, precluded from taking action against alleged aiders and abettors of a strike at the Blackball mine? They couldn't aid what did not exist! The little slip on the part of Sir Joseph Ward, due to his desira to say something pleasant all round, gives him entirely away. However, that doesn't matter now. He has gained his point, and the men have gained theirs, and the political and labour atmospheres are once more clear - the former, at any rate, until Parliament meets and iv.ises a storm over the whole business.

The headmaster and governors of Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, Staffordshire, have queer notions of what constitutes propriety

on the part of under-teachers. It is recorded that last month a pupil teacher, aged eighteen, while off duty and. waiting on a railway platform for an incoming train, had the temerity to smoke a cigarette. The assistant master saw the crime and reported it to the principal. Next morning that high functionary assembled all the pupils, and then, calling in the culprit, told him that he must choose between undergoing a caning in front; of all present or leaving the school. The young man chose the latter and lesser of the two indignities. The high-handed action of the principal was brought befure the governors, who unanimously upheld the headmaster's action. The paper which records this little dramatic episode states that there is much public indignation at the action of the school authorities. One would naturally suppose so. Walsall would be a desirable place to keep out of if it were otherwise.